Damage to agriculture from Tisoy reckoned at P3.67 billion
DAMAGE TO agriculture from Typhoon Tisoy (international name: Kammuri, was estimated at P3.67 billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
The DA said in its bulletin no. 9 that damage to the rice crop was 104,928 metric tons (MT) worth P1.32 billion, with 77,683 hectares of rice land affected.
Corn damage was 5,895 MT worth P700.92 million, with 41,256 hectares affected. Damage to high-value crops was 84,222 MT worth P1.55 billion, over 13,227 hectares.
Livestock and poultry losses totaled P61.96 million, involving 144,505 animals and 246 farmers. Losses to the coconut industry totaled P28.04 million covering 5.384 million trees.
Fisheries losses totaled P2.18 million, with 39 fisherfolk affected. Losses were mainly sustained by tilapia and mud crab growers, while most equipment losses were to motorboats.
Infrastructure losses amounted to P33.5 million, including greenhouses, research centers, cages, warehouses, demonstration farms, and nurseries. Machinery losses amounted to P706,000 amid damage to threshers, hand tractors, and shredders.
Aside from the DA’s P250-million Quick Response Fund (QRF) for rehabilitation, the Agricultural Credit and Policy Council (ACPC) has set aside P65 million for the Survival and Recovery Assistance (SURE Aid) program.
“The affected regions have a total of 93,711 bags of rice seed, 17,999 bags of corn seed, 1,979 kilos of seed for high-value crops in reserve and ready for distribution,” the DA said. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang
